The 48 Laws of Power
by: Robert Greene
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Amazon.com Review:
"Learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world,a shifting of perspective," writes Robert Greene. Mastery of one's emotionsand the arts of deception and indirection are, he goes on to assert,essential. The 48 laws outlined in this book "have a simple premise:certain actions always increase one's power ... while others decrease it andeven ruin us."
The laws cull their principles from many great schemers--and scheminginstructors--throughout history, from Sun-Tzu to Talleyrand, from Casanovato con man Yellow Kid Weil. They are straightforward in their amoralsimplicity: "Get others to do the work for you, but always take thecredit," or "Discover each man's thumbscrew." Each chapter providesexamples of the consequences of observance or transgression of the law,along with "keys to power," potential "reversals" (where the converse ofthe law might also be useful), and a single paragraph cleverly laid out tosuggest an image (such as the aforementioned thumbscrew); the marginsare filled with illustrative quotations. Practitioners of one-upmanship havebeen given a new, comprehensive training manual, as up-to-date as it istimeless.
Product Description:
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills three thousand years of the history of power in to forty-eight well explicated laws. As attention--grabbing in its design as it is in its content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers. Some laws teach the need for prudence ("Law 1: Never Outshine the Master"), the virtue of stealth ("Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions"), and many demand the total absence of mercy ("Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally"), but like it or not, all have applications in real life. Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, P. T. Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded--or been victimized by--power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.
"Learning the game of power requires a certain way of looking at the world,a shifting of perspective," writes Robert Greene. Mastery of one's emotionsand the arts of deception and indirection are, he goes on to assert,essential. The 48 laws outlined in this book "have a simple premise:certain actions always increase one's power ... while others decrease it andeven ruin us."
The laws cull their principles from many great schemers--and scheminginstructors--throughout history, from Sun-Tzu to Talleyrand, from Casanovato con man Yellow Kid Weil. They are straightforward in their amoralsimplicity: "Get others to do the work for you, but always take thecredit," or "Discover each man's thumbscrew." Each chapter providesexamples of the consequences of observance or transgression of the law,along with "keys to power," potential "reversals" (where the converse ofthe law might also be useful), and a single paragraph cleverly laid out tosuggest an image (such as the aforementioned thumbscrew); the marginsare filled with illustrative quotations. Practitioners of one-upmanship havebeen given a new, comprehensive training manual, as up-to-date as it istimeless.
Product Description:
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills three thousand years of the history of power in to forty-eight well explicated laws. As attention--grabbing in its design as it is in its content, this bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun-tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other great thinkers. Some laws teach the need for prudence ("Law 1: Never Outshine the Master"), the virtue of stealth ("Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions"), and many demand the total absence of mercy ("Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally"), but like it or not, all have applications in real life. Illustrated through the tactics of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry Kissinger, P. T. Barnum, and other famous figures who have wielded--or been victimized by--power, these laws will fascinate any reader interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Awesome guide
I have to saw I was skeptical about this book.I bought it on the recommendation of a family member and I'm so hooked.This book is so incredible and truly gives insight on how to live and be successful dealing with others.
Rating: 
- If you do these things you will end up with NO power.
Everyone can see through a snake, if not now then eventually.You can fool some people for a short time, but never for long- and the cost is that you need to always be acting and presenting such a lie to the world that it isn't worth it.Think about the people who you know that are using these principles.. dont you see how you would honestly rather see them fall down an elevator shaft than be successful?Well- everyone will eventually feel that way about YOU if you read this book and apply it. ... Read More
Rating: 
- My Former Bible
Only two types of people have been and will be attracted to reading this book:those who hope it's about one thing and those who know it's about the other.The former belong to the timid, powerless, low-self esteem majority looking for the ultimate guide to gaining respect and admiration from their peers.The latter belong to the unscrupulous, dare I say sociopathic ever-growing minority whose end goal is to win at everything against everyone by any means.Once the book has been read and fully ... Read More
Rating: - 48 laws of power
I'm pretty into morality but I quite like this book. But If you're not weary of someone who recommends deception (as the author does) you deserve to get suckered. Some of therhetorical techniques he employs include writing in the style of that wise blind guy who knew everything in Kung fu, it doesn't work at all once you've seen an interview with him. Also putting a number (48) in the title makes it sound very scientific, I'd bet he has no idea if there really are exactly 48 laws of power.
... Read More
Rating: 
- Smart Book
Very smart book. Has some very unique and useful tools. I don't agree with everything but I like the book and I will use some parts. I try to treat people as I would have them treat me....The Golden Rule. But with trouble makers or bad people this book can be very helpful.
- Awesome guideI have to saw I was skeptical about this book.I bought it on the recommendation of a family member and I'm so hooked.This book is so incredible and truly gives insight on how to live and be successful dealing with others.
- If you do these things you will end up with NO power.Everyone can see through a snake, if not now then eventually.You can fool some people for a short time, but never for long- and the cost is that you need to always be acting and presenting such a lie to the world that it isn't worth it.Think about the people who you know that are using these principles.. dont you see how you would honestly rather see them fall down an elevator shaft than be successful?Well- everyone will eventually feel that way about YOU if you read this book and apply it. ... Read More
- My Former BibleOnly two types of people have been and will be attracted to reading this book:those who hope it's about one thing and those who know it's about the other.The former belong to the timid, powerless, low-self esteem majority looking for the ultimate guide to gaining respect and admiration from their peers.The latter belong to the unscrupulous, dare I say sociopathic ever-growing minority whose end goal is to win at everything against everyone by any means.Once the book has been read and fully ... Read More
- 48 laws of powerI'm pretty into morality but I quite like this book. But If you're not weary of someone who recommends deception (as the author does) you deserve to get suckered. Some of therhetorical techniques he employs include writing in the style of that wise blind guy who knew everything in Kung fu, it doesn't work at all once you've seen an interview with him. Also putting a number (48) in the title makes it sound very scientific, I'd bet he has no idea if there really are exactly 48 laws of power.
... Read More
- Smart BookVery smart book. Has some very unique and useful tools. I don't agree with everything but I like the book and I will use some parts. I try to treat people as I would have them treat me....The Golden Rule. But with trouble makers or bad people this book can be very helpful.
